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Lagos carjacker Emmanuel Iwuno bags death sentence

Published

1 year ago

February 1, 2024

Lagos carjacker Emmanuel Iwuno bags death sentence

A Lagos man, Emmanuel Iwuno, has been sentenced to death by hanging for robbing one Mr Obinna Mbah of his car on March 8, 2020 in Okokomaiko area of the state.

The Court, presided over by Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe convicted Iwuno for armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

Abike-Fadipe also sentenced Iwuno to 21 years in prison for conspiracy to commit robbery.

She held that prosecution sufficiently proved the two-count charge against Iwuno.

The judge noted that the victim of the robbery and a prosecution witness, Mr Obinna Mbah, testified that four men robbed him of the car on March 8, 2020, on Thomas Onyemachi Street, Afromedia, Okokomaiko, Lagos State.

According to the judge, the witness appeared truthful in both his written and oral evidence.

The judge said: “Mbah told the court that one of the men covered his face with a mask and forced him to lie down on the ground.

“He said the man threatened him with a gun, took his Infinix phone and money while another robber drove away in his car and the other two robbers sped away in a motorcycle shortly after.

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“The witness said he entered a commercial motorcycle, and the motorcycle rider gave the robbers a hot chase.

“He said the defendant was apprehended after he rammed into a kiosk and crashed the car.”

Abike-Fadipe also said that the confessional statement of the convict corroborated the evidence of the witness.

“The defendant, in his confessional statement, said he was driving the stolen car and eventually crashed into a kiosk as he wanted to avoid killing a member of the public,” she said.

The judge said that although the defendant denied writing the statement and thumb printing on it, he failed to call to testify, the tea vendor in the place where he was arrested.

“The defendant is a liar as he failed to call the tea vendor as a witness,” she said.

The judge held that while the convict might not have pulled the gun on the witness, he was liable.

Lagos State counsel, Mrs Adebanke Ogunode, told the court that cartridges, including that of a locally-made cut-to-size single-barrel pistol, were found in the car when it crashed.

The offences contravene Sections 299 and 297(2) (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Lagos carjacker Emmanuel Iwuno bags death sentence

(NAN)

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INEC notifies Natasha, Senate of recall petition

Published

6 hours ago

March 27, 2025

Trends Admin

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

INEC notifies Natasha, Senate of recall petition

Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan yesterday got a memo from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

It is a notification to her of the receipt of petition from voters in her Constituency demanding her recall.

The same notification was sent by the electoral agency to the leadership of the Senate.

The Commission also unfolded plans to scrutinise the signatures of the petitioners to ascertain their authenticity.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, confirmed in a statement that the addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of representatives of the petitioners, which were initially not attached, had been submitted to the commission.

On Tuesday, the Commission had picked holes in the petition, pointing out that it failed to meet the standard because the addresses and phone numbers of the petitioners’ representatives were not provided as required by law.

Exuding confidence after INEC’s confirmation that that aspect of recall requirements had been met, the petitioners said the recall request was meant to correct what they described as the error of wrong choice.

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Olumekun said: “Further to the statement issued yesterday, Tuesday 25th March 2025, the Commission hereby confirms that the contact address of representatives of the petitioners, their telephone numbers and e-mail addresses have now been provided in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Commission, dated today Wednesday 26th March 2025.

“As provided in Clause 2(a) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, a letter has been written to notify the Senator sought to be recalled about the receipt of the petition and delivered to her official address.

“The same letter has been copied to the presiding officer of the Senate and published on the Commission’s website.

“The next step is to scrutinise the list of signatories submitted by the petitioners to ascertain that the petition is signed by more than one half (over 50%) of the registered voters in the Constituency.

“This will be done in the coming days. The outcome, which will be made public, shall determine the next step to be taken by the Commission. We once again reassure Nigerians that the process will be open and transparent.”

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, is serving a six-month suspension for misconduct and abuse of the Senate rules after her seat was changed.

She went ahead to make allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

On Wednesday, Zubairu Yakubu, who wrote the petition, accompanied by former Education Minister Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, appeared before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions sitting to defend the allegations.

However, the Committee threw out her petition, saying that the matter was already a subject of litigation.

During the meeting, Dr Ezekwesili and Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi (Ebonyi North) clashed, exchanging hot words.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has been junketing between the United States and Europe, granting interview against Senate president.

INEC notifies Natasha, Senate of recall petition

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FG declares public holidays for Eid-el-Fitr

Published

6 hours ago

March 27, 2025

Trends Admin

Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo

FG declares public holidays for Eid-el-Fitr

The Federal Government has declared Monday, March 31, and Tuesday, April 1, 2025, as public holidays in celebration of Eid-el-Fitr.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on behalf of the government.

He urged Muslims across the country to use the period for prayers, reflection, and acts of kindness, emphasizing the importance of peace, unity, and national development.

In a statement on Wednesday by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Magdalene Ajani, the minister congratulated Muslims on the successful completion of the Ramadan fast, highlighting the significance of the holy month in fostering self-discipline, compassion, and spiritual renewal.

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Tunji-Ojo called on all Muslims to continue embodying the virtues of love, generosity, and peace, emphasising the need for national unity and religious harmony.

He also urged Nigerians to use the festive period to pray for the country’s peace, stability, and prosperity.

“As we celebrate Eid-el-Fitr, let us reflect on the lessons of Ramadan, embrace one another with love and forgiveness, and work together to build a more united and prosperous Nigeria,” the minister stated.

He further encouraged citizens to celebrate safely and responsibly, while extending acts of kindness to the less privileged, in line with the values of Ramadan and Eid.

On behalf of the Federal Government, Tunji-Ojo wished all Muslim faithful a joyous Eid Mubarak and prayed that the blessings of the season bring happiness and fulfilment to everyone.